abstract
Pernicious effects of plastic particles, emergent contaminants worldwide, have been described in different species. In teleost species, alterations of immune function after exposure to nanoplastics (NPs) have been reported, but the interaction with cortisol - hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPI) axis has not yet been explored. Furthermore, the role of dissolved organic matter on the effects of NPs is poorly known. Thus, the aims of this research were to assess if polystyrene NPs (PSNPs) acted as a stressor on juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), interfering with the immune response, as well as to elucidate if humic acids (HA) modulated the potential effects of PSNPs. A short-term exposure to PSNPs and HA elicited an immuno-modulatory response, with an activation of steroidogenic stress-related pathways. An upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine (il10, tgfb) and stress-related (mc2r, gr1) transcripts were observed after exposure to HA and PSNPs both individually and in co-exposure. No notable alteration of inflammatory markers was consistently found, which may reflect a protective anti-inflammatory effect of HA in the presence of PSNPs. Nevertheless, there seems to be a more complex interaction between both components. Overall, data show that understanding the interaction of NPs with dissolved organic substances is key to deciphering their environmental risks.
keywords
SKIN MUCUS; GENE-EXPRESSION; RAINBOW-TROUT; POLYSTYRENE NANOPLASTICS; INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE; INNATE IMMUNITY; ACUTE STRESS; MARINE FISH; HEAD KIDNEY; TOXICITY
subject category
Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
authors
Brandts, I; Balasch, JC; Goncalves, AP; Martins, MA; Pereira, ML; Tvarijonaviciute, A; Teles, M; Oliveira, M
our authors
Manuel António Martins da Silva
Researcher
Maria de Lourdes Gomes Pereira
Associate Professor with Aggregationacknowledgements
This research was supported by CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020) and CICECOAveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020) financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES, and the Plan Estatal de Investigacion, Government of Spain and UE-FEDER funds (AGL201676069C22R) . IB was granted a predoctoral contract 'FIAGAUR' of Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. The Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain supported AT through a postdoctoral program Ramon y Cajal (RYC201722992) . MO had financial support of the program Investigador FCT, cofunded by the Human Potential Operational Programme and European Social Fund (IF/003352015) . JCB is a member of Healthiest Fish (AGL201681808REDT) . MT, JCB and IB are members of the Xarxa d'Aquicultura de Catalunya.